The loss of Lonesome George reminds us of the importance of all conservation efforts

On June 24, 2012, “Lonesome George” passed away. He was the last surviving land tortoise from Pinta Island, one of the northern islands in the Galápagos archipelago, and home to an active volcano. Thought to be 100 years old, Lonesome George lived at the Charles Darwin Research Station since he was found in 1971. For more than three decades, the Galápagos National Park has been trying to save the Pinta subspecies by finding George a mate. Unfortunately they did not succeed. The Loss of an Icon The giant tortoise is an iconic species from the Galápagos and is only found on these islands. Measuring up to 4 feet long and weighing up to 700 pounds, they are the largest living tortoise in the world. Other subspecies of giant tortoises are still found across the islands and they all have different features. Those that live on the larger islands where there is more rain have “dom...